Purpose: The goal was to determine the prevalence of medicine use and to provide population-based information on factors associated with medicine use, including prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, in children aged under 12 years.
Methods: A cross-sectional population survey of a random sample of children aged under 12 years (n = 6000) was carried out in Finland in spring 2007, with a response rate of 67%. A questionnaire was sent to their parents. Current use of medicines prescribed by a physician and use of OTC medicines during the preceding two days were the main outcome measures.
Results: The prevalence of current prescribed medicine use was 17%, and the 2-day prevalence of OTC medicine use 17% (vitamins excluded). The use of prescribed medicines was higher among children with illnesses diagnosed by a physician. Additionally, predictors for the use of prescribed medicines were young age among boys, health status worse than good, and the use of any prescribed medicines by a parent. The predictors for the use of OTC medicines by the child were young age and fairly good to poor health status, and the use of OTC medicines by a parent. However, children with any illnesses diagnosed by a physician were less likely to use OTC medicines.
Conclusions: A considerable proportion of children use prescription and OTC medicines in Finland. Young age and health-related factors, morbidity and health status, and parental medicine use predicted children's medicine use. Further studies are needed to examine the association between parents' and children's medicine use.